Wheelchair questions

[wdwmickey]

I have bad arthritis and gout in my foot and ankle occasionally I have bad "flair-ups" which make it impossible to walk. I'm having a flair-up now as a matter of fact I'm considering renting a wheelchair at WDW (daily-if needed) but, now I'm wondering about getting from the bus back to my room at POP it might be a very long walk on crutches. Can I just rent a wheelchair for my entire stay? If so where? Also, how hard would it be for DH or DDs(12 & 13) to push the wheelchair through WDW? Thanks for any advice. Cheryl

 

[merryweather20]

The moderator keeps good up to date information about where to rent wheel-chairs in this thread Post number two

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=595713

As for pushing its hard to tell. I'm sure you already know this, but do not push yourself! It will aggravate your arthritis and you'll get blisters on your palms since you are not used to it.

If DD 12 & 13 are about your size they can switch off and it won't tire them out. The wheel-chair will also have a smaller foot-print so it will be easier to maneuver around small areas, and you won't have to "park" it as much.

If there is a big size difference you would need to rent an ECV. I've never driven one but, they look like they are a bit higher up, so this might be easier to get in and out of, especially if you have knee problems.

Good-Luck!

 

[OKWMom]

I have rented from Care Medical (got the info in the aforementioned sticky thread) three times and have been well pleased with the service. I will tell you that I am the primary pusher for DD10 in the parks and although she is a good bit smaller than me, it takes quite a physical toll. Unless your DDs are very strong for their age, there will be a few places where I don't think they will have the ability to control the chair (the monorail exit ramp comes to mind immediately, but I'm sure there are others).

I'm not trying to be negative, I'm just sharing my perspective. I hope your trip works out well for you.

 

[wdwmickey]

Thanks for all your help! This is a newly diagnosed (within the year) issue for me and it never occured to me to look at the FAQs. I still want to have fun at WDW and don't want to have to worry about not being able to walk I'll have DH to help push too, but maybe an ECV if it isn't too complicated is a better idea.

 

[whgrn]

Alot depends on your size. Regardless of how big your kids are, you will be alot easier to push if you are a small person than if you are Pooh sized (like me, tee hee!)

I have used both a WC and an ECV in Disney. For the WC, I was mabye 250 pounds, and there were some strong young men pushing me. I only used the WC in Epcot (the ECVs were all gone), and the hills made it very difficult. OTOH, I've used the ECV many times and never had a problem. It also gives you more independence. You can park it, and walk anywhere you feel able (like restaurants, shows, some rides).

In either case, you should rent outside the parks. That way you always have it, at the resort, the parks, DTD, anywhere you go. Getting from the parking lots to the inside of the gate can be a LONG walk! I used Walker rentals and was very very happy with the ECV and their service.

Good luck to you, and have a GREAT trip!

Wendy in NJ
Check out my trip report at www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1638072

 

[BroganMc]

Thanks for all your help! This is a newly diagnosed (within the year) issue for me and it never occured to me to look at the FAQs. I still want to have fun at WDW and don't want to have to worry about not being able to walk I'll have DH to help push too, but maybe an ECV if it isn't too complicated is a better idea.

I have JRA. Don't torture yourself or your family. Rent an ECV offsite for the length of your stay. There are several reputable companies around and the rates are far cheaper than what Disney charges. All Disney transport can take ECVs and wheelchairs.

If you stick only to a push chair you'll end up tiring out your driver and quickly feeling lot an invalid who lost control. An ECV will give you the convenience you desire as well as maintaining your sense of independence.

If you've ever driven a car, golf cart or riding mower, you can drive an ECV.

I get around by means of a joystick powerchair. (My hands are too contracted to manage the tiller of an ECV.) With it, it never really matters how badly my arthritis flares.

 

[OneLittleSpark]

If you've not driven an ECV before, you might want to practice at a local store that has them available for customers to use (apparently WalMart and Target have them, but I'm a Brit, so don't know first-hand). You can also get yourself used to the rental by driving it around a quiet corner of the resort before you hit the parks. Try to practice driving forwards and backwards in straight lines, and around corners. Parallel parking is also a good skill, especially for the buses.

The buses have 2 different methods for getting a chair / ECV on: some have lifts and some have ramps. The lifts are a little bit trickier, as you have to reverse onto them. If you don't feel happy with the lifts, and a lift bus comes along, you can ask the driver nicely if they'll radio for a bus with a ramp. It will mean a slightly longer wait, but if it makes you more comfortable it's worth it.

If you use crutches to get about, when not on wheels, you might want to look at getting crutch holders attached to your rental ECV. I think most companies do this, and it would keep them out of the way.

Have a great time!

 

[wdwmickey]

Thanks everyone! It's looking like an ECV for me this trip and yes I'll practice before driving in the parks

 

[madenon]

Think about being independent! If you can get around for a while with the chair, that's one thing. But think about it. You're in pain or out of 'walking ability'. For whatever reason you want to go back to the resort on your own. Now what?

Or; you're all in a shop. The girls are looking at t-shirts, DH is busy looking at those silly Goofy's and you want to check out that quite bag across the store. How do you get there?

Maybe you'll want to do a ride on your own or arrange something behind DH/s and/or the girls backs to surprise them. Now what?

If you can manage to push yourself around enough to have be independent to the extend you want to be, a wc is great. But if not, it can become a pain in the butt. You'll either still walk to much (oh, I can do that little bit more), you'll feel miserable about bothering DH or daugthers about every 'little thing', or feel miserable about depending on them for all of those 'stupid' things. In that case; ECV it is!

 

[wdwmickey]

Those are all excellent points I hadn't considered. I'm used to being able to go where I want when I want. This whole wheelchair/ECV business is something I never had considered before all these issues with my foot and ankles. I'm in the process of renting an ECV offsite that way I'll have it if I need it and my family won't have to push me everywhere. Thanks for all of your advice!